Rotatable circulating valve for subsurface oil pumps

ABSTRACT

Normally, a sucker rod assembly extends through a tubing string in a well casing to a pump rod in the pump at the lower end of the tubing string and this rod is reciprocated from the surface to operate the pump. A stuffing box surrounds the sucker rod at the surface and maintains the pressure of the oil within the tubing string. If it is desired to remove the pump for repair or the like, all of the oil and other liquids within the drill string is withdrawn with the drill string as the pump has a nonreturn valve therein and as the sections of the drill string are removed at the surface, all of this liquid and oil is spilled out upon the surface thus leading to fire and other pressure hazards as well as polluting the surrounding area. In the present device, a cylindrical valve body is connected at the lower end of the tubing string just above the pump body and ports communicate through the wall of the valve body to the annular space between the tubing string and the well casing. A cylindrical valve element is screw-threadably engaged within the valve body and normally covers these ports, because when it is desired to kill the well (release the pressure) the sucker rod and pump rod is moved down to a position below the normal lowermost position thus engaging a valve element actuating member with the valve member so that rotation of the sucker rod from the surface unscrews the valve and uncovers the ports so that a well killing fluid such as water, can be circulated through the tubing string and the annulars between the string and the casing to remove the oil and the like, but permit release of the fluids through the ports as the tubing string is raised and removed.

Oct. 14, 1975 United States Patent [191 1 Inger ROTATABLE CIRCULATING VALVE FOR SUBSURFACE OIL PUNIPS A stuffing box surrounds the sucker rod at the surface [76] Inventor: Clement Heidinger, PO. Box 111,

the like, all of the oil and other liquids within the drill string is withdrawn with the drill string as the pump Lampman, Saskatchewan, Canada Apr. 25, 1974 [22] Filed: has a non-return valve therein and as the sections of the drill string are removed at the surface, all of this Appl' 464044 liquid and oil is spilled out upon the surface thus leading to fire and other pressure hazards as well as polluting the surrounding area. In the present device, a cy- [52] US. 417/434; 166/73; 166/224 R;

251/345 lindrical valve body is connected at the lower end of F16K 31/53 [51] Int. F04B 21/08;

the tubing string just above the pump body and ports [58] Field of Search...... 417/434, 452, 453; 166/72, communicate through the wall of the valve body to 345 the annular space between the tubing string and the well casing. A cylindrical valve element is screw- References Cited threadably engaged within the valve body and nor- UNITED STATES PATENTS mally covers these ports, because when it is desired to 166K224 x kill the well (release the pressure) the sucker rod and 166 /226 pump rod is moved down to a position below the nor- 166/224 mal lowermost position thus engaging a valve element 16 /224 X actuating member with the valve member so that rotation of the sucker rod from the surface unscrews the valve and uncovers the ports so that a well killing fluid such as water, can be circulated through the tubing string and the annulars between the string and the casing to remove the oil and the like, but permit release of the fluids through the ports as the tubing string is 2,332,748 Page 2,905,250 9/1959 Talbott...

2,907,391 10/1959 Kinley........

3,054,415 9/1962 Baker et al.

Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Assistant ExaminerLeonard Smith Attorney, Agent, or FirmStanley G. Ade

[57] ABSTRACT Normally, a sucker rod assembly extends through a tubing string in a well casing to a pump rod in the 6 m 9 A m r A m 9 %Z/ m g n a |..l

c m L a pump at the lower end of the tubing string and this rod is reciprocated from the surface to operate the pump.

thin

US. Patent OCL 14, 1975 Sheet 1 012 3,912,424

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,912,424

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in deep well pumps or thelike normally used for example, for pumping oil from relatively deep wells, to the surface.

Conventionally, the pump body is secured to the lower end of a tubing string which extends downwardly from the surface and within the well casing. A sucker rod extends through a stuffing box at the surface and is reciprocated, the lower end of the sucker rod being secured to the pump rod and reciprocation of the pump rod raises oil upwardly within the tubing string between the sucker rod and the tubing string, a non-return valve on the pump preventing the oil from flowing back down on the downward stroke.

It is to be understood that such wells may be many thousands of feet deep so that at any one time, there is a relatively large quantity of oil within the tubing string which extends from the pump at the bottom of the well, to the surface. When it is desired to remove the pump for repair or replacement purposes, the tubing string has to be withdrawn and as each section is removed, the oil and other liquids within this section are normally spilled upon the ground surrounding the well casing. Furthermore, it is necessary to remove the stuffing box and any pressures which may have been generated by the presence of gas or the like, may be released suddenly with the accompanying danger not only from the pressure, but from the risk of fire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the disadvantages inherent with normal withdrawal operations by providing means whereby the well can be killed prior to extracting by circulating a fluid such as water, through the tubing string and through the annulus between the tubing string and the well casing thus flushing out all of the oil and other liquidswhich may be present and substituting water or other similar types of fluid. Furthermore, when the tubing string is then removed, the water or other liquid flows bygravity into the annulus betweenthe tubing string and the well casing so that no liquid is spilled upon the surface so that the dangers of fire and pollution are avoided.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which provides a valve which can be actuated by the sucker rod from the surface to open and close ports communicating between the interior of the tubing string and the annulus between the tubing string and the well casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the valve does not need to be removed from the well to be reset after use inasmuch as it can be opened or closed from the surface by rotation of the sucker rod string.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the valve can be opened and closed without replacement or repair 'thus reducing expense of sub-surface equipment repairs. Furthermore, reduced expense of labor and equipment is realized. I

Still'another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple inconstruction, economical in manufacture,

and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and other such objects and advantages as will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic view of an oil well with the pump at the lower end thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sectional view of the valve assembly.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve element per se.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the valve element actuating member per se.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of FIG. 4.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIG. 1 in which 10 illustrates a well casing extending from the surface 11 downwardly to the oil bearing zone 12. A tubing string collectively designated 13 is shown schematically extending downwardly from the surface, and having a deep well pump assembly 14 secured to the lower end thereof.

This type of pump 14 is operated by the reciprocation of a pump pull rod 15 and this pull rod is actuated by a sucker rod string 16 which extends downwardly through the tubing string 13 from the surface. This sucker rod is reciprocated in the direction of doubleheaded arrow 17 by conventional pump means (not il- 1 lustrated).

The sucker rod extends through a stufflng box 18 and a non-return valve is provided in the pump so that as the 'pump is actuated, oil is pumped upwardly through the tubing string 13 and is discharged as indicated by reference character 19.

When it is desired to repair or replace the pump 14, the entire tubing string assembly 13 has to be withdrawn and as each section extends above the ground 11, it is unscrewed from the next succeeding section. It will, of course, be appreciated that this tubing string is full of oil and other liquids at all times and, due to the extreme depth at which such pumps normally operate, the volume contained within such a tubing string is considerable.

The invention collectively designated 20 comprises a valve assembly which is situated within the tubing string just above the pump 14 and permits communication, when it is desired to withdraw the pump, between the interior of the tubing string and the annulus 21 between the tubing string and the well casing so that firstly, a well killing fluid such as water can be circulated through the tubing string and the annulus to remove the oil and other liquids, and secondly, to permit this killing fluid to be drained through the valve assembly as the tubing string is raised.

Details are shown in the remaining views and it will be seen from FIG. 2 that this valve assembly comprises a cylindrical valve body 22 having tapered screwthreaded portions formed on the ends of the body and identified by reference characters 23 and 24.

The upper end 23 of the valve body is screw threadably engageable within the end of a length of tubing 13A forming part of the tubing string 13.

The lower end 24 of the valve body 22 is screw threadably engageable within a tubular portion 14A connected to the pump 14 and this supports the pump at the lower end of the tubing string 13.

This hollow shell or body 22 is provided with a plurality of ports or apertures 25 extending through the wall thereof thus communicating the interior of the valve body with the annulus 21 between the tubing string 13 and the well casing 10.

A valve element collectively designated 26 is provided and normally closes off these ports or apertures 25. This valve element is a hollow cylindrical shell and the exterior surface is provided with an exterior screw thread 27 which is preferably a square thread as illustrated. This screw threadably engages within a corresponding thread 28 formed on the interior of the valve body 22 as clearly shown so that rotation of the valve element will cause same to move upwardly with reference to FIG. 2 thus uncovering the port 25 or downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the ports are covered and sealed. When in the position shown in FIG. 2, the valve element is described as being in the aperture covering position and when moved upwardly so that the lower end of the valve element is clear of the ports 25, it is described as being in the aperture exposing position. It should be appreciated that the valve element is normally in the aperture closing position shown in FIG. 2. A retainer ring 26A is screw threadably engaged within the upper end of the shell 22 in order to limit the upward movement of the valve element 26.

However, when it is desired to kill the well and withdraw the tubing string, means are provided to raise the valve element upwardly within the valve body.

This means consists of valve element actuating member collectively designated 29 secured to the sucker rod 16 at a position just above the valve element 26. The sucker rod, which extends clear through the valve assembly, normally reciprocates, but this reciprocation maintains the member 29 clear of the valve element 26.

This valve element 26 is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and is cylindrical in shape. It consists of a cylindrical guide portion 30 having a plurality of relatively deep serrations 31 formed around the periphery thereof and at substantially one end 32 thereof. These serrations in clude downwardly extending male portions 33, the diameter of this part of the member being greater than the other end 34. This other end 34 is tapered at the extremity 35 thereof and acts as a guiding portion when the member 29 is engaged with the valve element for actuating same.

The valve element 26 is provided with female serrations 36 on the inner surface thereof and these serrations correspond to the portions 33 of the member 29. When the member 29 is moved downwardly, the guide portion 30 engages within the valve element 26 and moves downwardly so that the male serrations 33 engage within the female serrations 36, both sets of serrations being termed a clutch element.

Once the member 29 is engaged within elements 26, rotation of the sucker rod string from the surface, will rotate the valve element thus moving it upwardly and downwardly within the valve body as hereinbefore described.

It is to be appreciated that normally the sucker rod string is reciprocated within limits which do not engage the serrations 33 with the serrations 36, but when it is desired to operate the valve element 26, the sucker rod is moved downwardly by a greater amount so that disengagement takes place and the valve can be actuated.

In operation, the pump normally operates in the conventional manner, but when it is desired to withdraw the tubing string, the sucker rod is moved downwardly to a greater extent than normal thus engaging the clutch elements comprising the serrations 33 and the serrations 36. The sucker rod string is then rotated from the sucker to rotate the valve element 26 which moves it upwardly within the valve body 22 thus uncovering ports or apertures 25.

It will be noted that the well casing extends above the surface 11 and that a conduit 37 extends through the casing and is controlled by means of a valve 38. This valve is normally closed, but when it is desired to kill the well, this valve is opened and the conduit is connected to a source of killing fluid such as water under pressure.

Water is then pumped downwardly through the annular space 21 and between the tubing string and the easing whereupon it enters the tubing string through the apertures 25 and then moves upwardly through the tubing string to be exhausted through the discharge conduit 19. Of course, it will be appreciated that the movement of the purging or killing fluid can be reversed namely downwardly of the tubing string and upwardly through the annulus 21.

This clears out all of the oil and other fluids which may be present within the tubing string whereupon the stuffing box may be released and the sucker rod assembly or string 16 can, if desired, be unscrewed and can be withdrawn. Alternatively, the pump canbe removed by raising the tubing string 13 and unscrewing each section as it extends above the ground. As the tubing string is raised, gravity causes any killing fluid such as water within the tubing string to drain into the annulus 21 through the aperture or ports 25 so that no spillage occurs upon the surface.

Once the necessary repairs and/or replacements have been made, the process is reversed whereupon the valve assembly can be closed thus sealing off the ports or apertures 25.

The valve can be operated from the surface if the sucker rod string is in position within the well and connected to the pump rod in the normal operating condition and position.

This enables the pump and/or sucker rod string to be removed safely and economically.

Since various modification can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A rotary valve assembly for use with submerged oil pump assemblies within a well casing, said pump assembly including a hollow tubing string within said well casing connected to said oil pump and extending to the surface, said tubing string and said well casing defining an annular space therebetween, a reciprocal sucker rod within said tubing string and a pump rod connected to the lower end of said sucker rod for operating said pump; said valve assembly comprising in combination a hollow valve body, including a wall, connected inseries with said tubing string and adjacent to said pump, said body being apertured through said wall thereof to communicate the interior of said pump body with said annular space, a hollow valve element within said valve body movable from an aperture covering position to an apertured exposing position, and valve element actuating means connected to said means to actuate said pump, said valve element being normally in said aperture covering position, said valve element actuating means being normally disengaged from said valve element, said valve element being screw threadably engageable within said valve body and means to engage and disengage said valve element actuating member with said valve element for rotating same in either direction within said valve body, thereby moving said valve element up and down said valve body from said aperture covering position to said aperture exposing position and vice-versa.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 in which said valve element comprises a hollow cylinder engageable within said valve body, and means on one end of said cylinder selectively engageable by said valve element actuating member.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 in which said valve element actuating member includes means on one end thereof selectively engageable with said one end of said hollow cylinder.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 3 in which said means on said one end of said cylinder and said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member comprise clutch elements selectively engageable with one another for imparting rotation from said valve element actuating member to said valve element when said clutch elements are engaged one with the other.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 4 in which said clutch element on said valve element actuating member comprises a plurality of relatively deep serrations defining male clutch elements around said valve element actuating member and extending from said one end, said clutch elements on said valve element comprising a plurality of corresponding relatively deep serrations formed on the inner surface thereof defining female clutch elements, said female clutch elements being selectively engageable by said clutch elements on said valve element actuating member.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 2 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 3 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 4 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element 9. The valve assembly according to claim 5 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element. 

1. A rotary valve assembly for use with submerged oil pump assemblies within a well casing, said pump assembly including a hollow tubing string within said well casing connected to said oil pump and extending to the surface, said tubing string and said well casing defining an annular space therebetween, a reciprocal sucker rod within said tubing string and a pump rod connected to the lower end of said sucker rod for operating said pump; said valve assembly comprising in combination a hollow valve body, including a wall, connected in series with said tubing string and adjacent to said pump, said body being apertured through said wall thereof to communicate the interior of said pump body with said annular space, a hollow valve element within said valve body movable from an Aperture covering position to an apertured exposing position, and valve element actuating means connected to said means to actuate said pump, said valve element being normally in said aperture covering position, said valve element actuating means being normally disengaged from said valve element, said valve element being screw threadably engageable within said valve body and means to engage and disengage said valve element actuating member with said valve element for rotating same in either direction within said valve body, thereby moving said valve element up and down said valve body from said aperture covering position to said aperture exposing position and vice-versa.
 2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 in which said valve element comprises a hollow cylinder engageable within said valve body, and means on one end of said cylinder selectively engageable by said valve element actuating member.
 3. The valve assembly according to claim 2 in which said valve element actuating member includes means on one end thereof selectively engageable with said one end of said hollow cylinder.
 4. The valve assembly according to claim 3 in which said means on said one end of said cylinder and said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member comprise clutch elements selectively engageable with one another for imparting rotation from said valve element actuating member to said valve element when said clutch elements are engaged one with the other.
 5. The valve assembly according to claim 4 in which said clutch element on said valve element actuating member comprises a plurality of relatively deep serrations defining male clutch elements around said valve element actuating member and extending from said one end, said clutch elements on said valve element comprising a plurality of corresponding relatively deep serrations formed on the inner surface thereof defining female clutch elements, said female clutch elements being selectively engageable by said clutch elements on said valve element actuating member.
 6. The valve assembly according to claim 2 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element.
 7. The valve assembly according to claim 3 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element.
 8. The valve assembly according to claim 4 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element
 9. The valve assembly according to claim 5 in which said valve element actuating member comprises a cylindrical member secured to said means to actuate said pump, said cylindrical member having a valve element guide portion on the other end of said valve element actuating member, for guiding said valve element actuating member into engagement with said valve element prior to said means on said one end of said valve element actuating member is selectively engaged with said valve element. 